Reclosable container with easily openable closure

ABSTRACT

In accordance with the present invention, an easily openable container includes an elastic member that is connected to the container when the closure is in an open condition. Thus, the elastic member is at rest when the cover closure is open and spring-biases the closure to an open condition. When the closure is closed against the spring-biasing of the elastic material, the elastic member is stretched and held stretched when the closure in the front of the closure is engaged, such as by a snap closure or any other releasable connection. When the locking mechanism is released, the closure pops open by contraction of the elastic member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/718,669, filed Sep. 20, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to product containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to an easily openable closure that has particular use for reclosable containers, such as pill boxes and any other container that is capable of containing articles and objects therein. For example, such containers are capable of storing objects, such as pills, whereby the container can be easily opened for access to some of the pills therein and then easily closed to store the remaining pills for later access.

Moreover, the present invention relates to an easily openable closure that can be used on a container of any size that can contain and house articles and objects therein. As a further example, the closure can be used on a container that can be a laundry hamper for containing clothing or a garbage container for housing trash therein.

Easily openable closures for reclosable containers, such as pill boxes, pill cases, laundry hampers and garbage containers, for example, are well known in the art. These closures and containers can include one or more compartments therein. Typically, a garbage container, for example, has a single main compartment for storage one full bag of trash. Alternatively, a garbage container may have multiple compartments for storing different types of recyclable materials. Similarly, a laundry hamper may have one or more compartments. For example, a hamper may be provided with multiple compartments for sorting dark colored and light colored clothing from each other.

Further, a pill box with a closure thereon similarly can have a single main storage compartment or an array of compartments, such as an array of seven with one compartment for each day of the week or can be a single compartment stand alone box. A pill box many also have 31 compartments where each compartment corresponds to each day of the month for a full month of pill storage. The multiple day compartment boxes are simply an array of the single box where each compartment is constructed in the same fashion and respective closures are provided for each compartment.

Therefore, for purposes herein, the discussion will relate to a single device with a closure for closing a single compartment for ease of illustration but it should be understood that multiple arrays of compartments that are closed by respective multiple closures can be provided.

A good example of prior art easily openable closure with container is a typical pill box that includes a main storage compartment area and with snap cover to keep the pills inside the compartment. The cover closure typically has a living hinge and snap closure on the front side. The user must pull on the closure to release it and then pull it open to gain access to the pills in the compartment. Thus, the construction of this snap-type closure is difficult to operate, particularly by elderly people. Also, another common closure in pill box is a simple threaded cap which is threadably connected to a female threaded cylindrical pill box storage housing is similarly difficult to operate.

Therefore, there is a need for a easily openable closure and container that is very easy to operate where it is easy to gain access to the compartment. For example, there is a need for a pill box with an easily openable closure that can be reclosed when desired.

There have been a number of prior art efforts to address this need. For example, resilient members, such as rubber or metal plates, have been used to spring-bias a cover closure to a container into an open condition. Also, rubber bands have been provided laterally across a container within a hinge construction to engage with an impact member to, in turn, urge a cover to a container into an opened condition. With these prior structures to spring-bias the cover closure to the container into an open condition, the cover can be moved into a closed condition against the forces of the spring-biased and then secured in place by a conventional closure. Also, snap closures can be built into the hinge to urge it opened or closed, as desired.

However, these prior art closures and container constructions are complicated and difficult and expensive to manufacture. These prior art containers are also difficult to operate.

Therefore, there is a need for a reclosable container with an easily openable closure that is easy to open and close to store and gain access to the contents therein. There is a need for a reclosable container with an easily openable closure that is well suited for use as a pill box or other storage container. There is a need for a reclosable container that is safe to operate. There is another need for a reclosable container that is easy to manufacture yet operates better than prior art reclosable containers, such as prior art pill boxes. In fact, there is a need for a new closure in general, whether or not it is attached to a storage compartment or not, that can be easily opened and closed when desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art closures and reclosable containers. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available closures and containers and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available closures and reclosable containers.

The present invention solves the problems in prior art reclosable containers and easily openable closures by providing a new and unique closure and container that can be easily opened by the user without having to struggle with pulling open a friction-fit snap closure or other prior art closure to gain access to object or articles contained therein. The present invention provides a reclosable container with a unique easily openable closure that has a construction that allows a user to easily open the cap. A snap release button tab is provided to release the cover. Most importantly, the cover is spring-biased into an open condition. Thus, when the button tab is depressed, the cover pops open to permit easy and immediate access to the compartment in the container therein.

In accordance with the present invention, a piece of elastic material (e.g. rubber) is overmolded (or insert molded) into the container when the closure is in an open condition. Thus, the elastic member is at rest when the cover closure is open and spring-biases the closure to an open condition. When the closure is closed against the spring-biasing of the elastic material, the elastic member is stretched and held stretched when the closure in the front of the closure is engaged, such as by a snap closure or any other releasable connection. As can be understood, when the closure is released by pressing a release tab, for example, the closure pops open by contraction of the elastic member. Any type of snap closure may be employed by the present invention. This construction and method of manufacturing of the closure and container is new and novel.

Therefore, the present invention provides a new reclosable container and easily openable closure with an improved construction with a unique method of manufacturing such construction. As a result, the reclosable container and easily openable closure is provided that is easier to use than prior art container and closures and is, as a result, well suited for use as a pill box or other containers that require a reclosable closure, cover or lid.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved reclosable container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved reclosable container that includes an easily openable closure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved reclosable container that easily pops open for access to the compartment therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved reclosable container with an easily openable closure that is more effective and easier to manufacture than prior art reclosable containers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved reclosable container with an easily openable closure that is well suited for storing pills and other objects and articles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved reclosable container with an easily openable closure that is easy to open and close.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the reclosable container with easily openable closure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the reclosable container with easily openable closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the reclosable container with easily openable closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the reclosable container with easily openable closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the reclosable container with easily openable closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the reclosable container with easily openable closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the reclosable container with easily openable closure of FIG. 1 in an open condition;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the reclosable container with easily openable closure in an open condition, as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the reclosable container with easily openable closure in an open condition, as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a close-up perspective view of the lock tab in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a close-up perspective view of the lock tab and protrusion in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an array of seven reclosable containers in the form of a pill box for storing a week's worth of pills therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention generally relates to a reclosable device that includes a lid hingedly connected to a main housing. As will be described in detail below, the easily openable closure employed in the present invention is uniquely spring-biased into an open condition. It may be used in any environment or in any device or apparatus that has use for a closure that can be easily opened. By way of example only, the present invention is shown in connection with the environment of a pill box for ease of illustration and description. This in no way limits the scope and breadth of use of the present invention. All such uses are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

Turning first to FIG. 1, a front perspective view of the device 10 of present invention is shown in the configuration and environment of a small container box, which can be used to store pills, and the like. The reclosable container 10 of the present invention is shown to generally include a main housing 12 with a lid 14 hingedly connected thereto. The main housing 12 serves as housing container for storing pills, and the like therein. The lid 14 is hingedly connected at one end 14 a to the main housing container 12 by a hinge 16, which will be shown and described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 7-9. This enables the lid 14 closure to pivot about a pivot axis.

The opposing end 14 b of the lid 14 communicates with a locking mechanism, generally referred to as 18, that keeps the lid 14 closed when desired. The locking mechanism 18 is preferably a friction-fit snap structure, which will be shown and described in connection with FIGS. 10 and 11 below. The locking mechanism 18 may also be a latch, or the like. This locking mechanism 18 may be made child proof to make it more difficult for a child to open the lid 14. Any type of child proofing configuration may be employed to carry out this purpose.

A front elevational view of the device 10 showing the preferred locking mechanism 18 is illustrated in FIG. 4. Pressing on the locking mechanism 18 causes the free end 14 b of the lid 14 to be released so that that it can quickly and easily pop open. This is particularly helpful for users, such as the elderly, that do not have good motor skills or strength with their hands and fingers. As a result, the lid 14 can be easily opened so the user can gain access to the contents of the main housing 12.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a side elevational view of the reclosable device 10 of the present invention. As can be seen, the lid 14 is held adjacent to the main housing 12 by the locking mechanism 18 at the free end 14 b of the lid 14. The lid 14 is hingedly connected to the main housing 12 by a hinge 16. For example, for ease of manufacturing, the hinge 16 may be a living hinge that is integrally formed, such as by injection molding, with the lid 14 and main housing 12. An elastic member 20 is also provided to spring-bias the lid 14 into an open position, namely, in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the size and configuration of the present invention can be selected to accommodate any type of object or article to be stored therein.

In FIG. 3, a rear perspective view of the device 10 of the present invention is shown. The lid 14 hingedly connected to the main housing by a hinge 16, such as a living hinge, can be clearly seen. The elastic spring-biasing member 20 has two ends 20 a and 20 b. A first end 20 a of the elastic member 20 is connected to the main housing 12 while the second end 20 b is connected to the lid 14. Referring back to FIG. 2, the elastic member 20 is routed outside of and over the hinge 16. The elastic member 20 is under tension when the lid 14 is in a closed position and at rest when the lid 14 is open. Since the elastic member 20 is connected to the lid 14 and the main housing 12 when it is in an open condition and is routed about and over the hinge 16, as in FIG. 2, the lid 14 is spring-biased to an open position to ensure that it pops open when the locking mechanism 18 is not engaged.

During the manufacturing process, the elastic member 20 is connected to the lid 14 and main housing 12, as described above, when the lid 14 is open. For example, the elastic member 20 is preferably connected by insert or injection molding. Alternatively, the elastic member 20 may be connected as described above by adhesive, rivets or any other fasteners.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, the device 10 of the present invention is shown in an open condition. The elastic member 20 in this position is preferably completely at rest or at a tension less than when the lid 14 is in a closed position. In FIG. 7, a perspective view of the device 10 in an open position is shown where a compartment 22 defined by the main housing 12 is now fully accessible so the contents therein, such as pills and other items, can be accessed. The lid 14 pops open in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 8 shows a side elevational view of the device 10 of FIG. 7 where the lid 14 is open. The lid 14 of the present invention conveniently pops open up actuating release of the locking mechanism 18. FIG. 9 further shows a rear perspective view of the device 10 in an open condition. As can be clearly be seen, the connection of the first end 20 a of the elastic member 20 to the main housing 12 and the connection of the second end 20 b of the elastic member 20 to the lid 14 is outside of the pivot axis 24 and away from the main housing 12. As a result, the tensioning of the elastic member 20 causes the lid 14 to be urged in a counterclockwise direction to open rather than in a clockwise direction to further close. Thus, a soon as the locking mechanism 18 releases the lid 14, it will immediately pop open under the spring-biasing forces of the elastic member 20.

FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 show further detail of the interconnection of the elastic member 20 to the lid 14 and the main housing 12. As seen in FIG. 6, the elastic member 20 preferably extends substantially the entire length of bottom surface 12 a of the main housing 12 but it can be of a shorter length, if desired. Depending on the material selected for the elastic member 20, the length thereof can be modified to suit the desired amount spring-biasing for a given lid 14 and main housing 12.

Turning now to FIGS. 10 and 11, details of the preferred construction of the locking mechanism 18 is shown. It should be understood that the locking mechanism 18 is merely a preferred construction, other constructions that serve to maintain the lid 14 in a closed position are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, the locking mechanism 18 may be located anywhere on the lid 14 and main housing 14, although preferred on the free end 14 b of the lid 14 and on one side of the main housing 12. Also, the locking mechanism 18 may be modified to achieve different pop open action where the lid 14 is released slower or faster from locking or to achieve different sounds of popping open to confirm to the user that a successful opening of lid 14 has occurred.

Referring specifically to the preferred embodiment of the locking mechanism 18, reference is made to FIGS. 10 and 11. In FIG. 10 a close-up view of the main housing 12 is shown with a spring-loaded tab 18 a which moves freely relative to the main housing 12. The elastic member 20 is shown in broken lines for illustration purposes only to indicted that it preferably runs under the main housing 12 on the bottom surface 12 a thereof. The spring-loaded tab 18 a is configured to be depressed by a user's finger, such as a thumb. The tab 18 a may be easily formed by integral molding during formation of the main housing 12. In FIG. 10 and, the spring-loaded tab 18 a is in a resting condition but can actuate down and outward, as indicated by the arrows.

As best seen in FIG. 11, the lid 14 closes against the forces of the spring-biasing elastic member 20 so that a radiused protrusion 26 can ride into a recessed seat 28 in the tab 18 a in the housing 12 by simply pressing downwardly on the lid 14 when in a closed position. Thus, the protrusion 26 can be seated within the seat 28 in the tab 18 a without pressing down on the tab 18 a. The tab 18 a will spring outward temporarily while to permit the protrusion 26 to clear into the seat 28 and then the tab 18 a will snap back to secure the protrusion 26 within the seat 28. As a result, the lid 14 is releasably secured into a closed condition. As stated above, this construction is one of many different types of locking mechanisms 18 that can be used and still be within the scope of the present invention. Although, it is preferred the locking mechanism 18 requires little skill or dexterity to release it so the lid 14 can be popped open very easily, such a by a simple downward press.

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of an application 100 of the reclosable container and easily openable closure of the present invention. FIGS. 1-11 illustrated a single main housing 12 with a single lid 14 hingedly connected thereto that can be easily opened to provide a single compartment pill box container. FIG. 12 illustrates an array of containers 112 that are preferably integrally formed to provide a set of seven containers 112 so that the user can further sort objects for storage, such as pills for each day of a week. As a further alternative, a number of single containers 10 may be provided side by side so that they may be clipped together to form an array, as desired. For example, clips or bands may be employed for this purpose within the scope of the present invention.

In this example, single main housing, generally referred to as 102 is provided with an array of compartments 104. An array of corresponding lids 114 are respectively hingedly connected to the portions of the main housing 112 proximal to the each of the compartments 104. Each of the lids 114 are retained in a closed position by respective locking mechanisms 118 against the forces of respective elastic members (not shown in FIG. 12). Thus, the device 100 of FIG. 12 is simply an array of multiple containers 112 of that which is shown in FIGS. 1-11. Of course, more or less compartments 104 can be provided and in different arrays, such as 31 compartments for each day of the month or other aesthetic configurations, such as circular arrays. Each of the these alternative configurations are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

It has been shown that the main housing 12 provides an enclosed storage compartment 22 for storing items therein. In fact, the easily openable closure 10 of the present invention can be employed to releasably secure and closure, such as a door or lid 14 to any housing or structure. For example, the present invention may be used to protect accidental activation of a light switch. In this example, a spring-biased lid 14, according to the present invention, may be positioned over a switch plate (not shown) whereby the lid is closed and secured in place by a locking mechanism 18. When the light switch needs to be used, the lid 14 can be popped open, as described above.

The main housing 12, lid 14 and hinge 16 are preferably made of plastic, which can be easily formed by injection molding, and the like. The elastic member 20 is preferably rubber but could be other materials, such as stretchable nylon and other elastic materials.

In view of the foregoing, a new and unique reclosable container 10, 100 with an easily openable closure is provided, which greatly facilitates access to storage compartments 22, 104 by causing the lid 14, 114 to pop open when the locking mechanism 18, 118 is actuated.

It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims. 

1. A reclosable container, comprising: a main housing having a first edge and defining at least one compartment therein; a lid, having a second edge; the second edge of the lid being hingedly connected to the first edge of the main housing; the lid being hingedly connected to the main housing about a pivot axis and movable between an open and closed position; an elastic member, having a first end and a second end; the first end of the elastic member being connected to the first edge of the main housing and the second end of the elastic member being connected to the second edge of the lid; the pivot axis residing between the elastic member and the first edge and the second edge; the elastic member being at rest when the lid is in an open position and stretched when the lid is in a closed position; the elastic member thereby spring-biasing the lid into an open position; and a means for retaining the lid the in a closed position.
 2. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein the means for retaining the lid in a closed position is a latch.
 3. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein the means for retaining the lid in a closed position is a friction-fit snap closure.
 4. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is made of rubber.
 5. The reclosable container of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of main housings with a plurality of lids respectively hingedly connected thereto; and a plurality of elastic members respectively connected to the plurality of lids thereby independently spring-biasing each of the lids into an open position.
 6. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein the main housing is made of plastic.
 7. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment is configured to receive and house pills therein.
 8. An easily openable closure, comprising: a main housing; a lid, having a second edge; the second edge of the lid being hingedly connected to the first edge of the main housing; the lid being hingedly connected to the main housing about a pivot axis and movable between an open and closed position; an elastic member, having a first end and a second end; the first end of the elastic member being connected to the first edge of the main housing and the second end of the elastic member being connected to the second edge of the lid; the pivot axis residing between the elastic member and the first edge and the second edge; the elastic member being at rest when the lid is in an open position and stretched when the lid is in a closed position; the elastic member thereby spring-biasing the lid into an open position; a means for retaining the lid the in a closed position;
 9. The reclosable container of claim 8, wherein the means for retaining the lid in a closed position is a latch.
 10. The reclosable container of claim 8, wherein the means for retaining the lid in a closed position is a friction-fit snap closure.
 11. The reclosable container of claim 8, wherein the elastic member is made of rubber.
 12. The reclosable container of claim 8, wherein the main housing is made of plastic.
 13. A method of manufacturing a reclosable container, comprising the steps of: forming a main housing having a first edge and defining at least one compartment therein; forming a lid, having a second edge; the second edge of the lid being hingedly connected to the first edge of the main housing; the lid being hingedly connected to the main housing about a pivot axis and movable between an open and closed position; providing an elastic member having a first end and a second end; connecting the first end of the elastic member to the first edge of the main housing when the lid is in an open position; and connecting the second end of the elastic member to the second edge of lid when the lid is in an open position with the pivot axis residing between the elastic member and the first edge and the second edge.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forming a main housing is injection molding a housing.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forming a lid is injection molding a lid.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of connecting the first end of the elastic member to the first edge of the main housing is carried out by insert molding.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of connecting the second end of the elastic member to the second edge of lid when the lid is in an open position is carried out by insert molding.
 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of: providing a means for retaining the lid in a closed position.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the means for retaining is a latch.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the means for retaining is a friction-fit snap closure.
 21. The method of claim 13, wherein the elastic member is made of rubber.
 22. The method of claim 13, wherein the main housing is made of plastic. 